Oxlade-Chamberlain and Arsenal teammate Theo Walcott are expected to make their first returns to Southampton today since leaving for life at the Emirates.

And Gunners boss Wenger recalls how impressed he was when he first saw the 19-year-old in action.

Wenger said: “I first saw Alex on tape and you could see in his movement and first touch that he had something special.

“He came from a lower league where he had more time to do what he wanted, but he is learning his trade now and becoming a team player.”

Oxlade-Chamberlain has risen to a full England international since his £12m move from Saints in 2011, while Walcott is developing into one of the Premier League’s top stars six years after he made a similar move.

And Oxlade-Chamberlain said: “We’re both really looking forward to going back to Southampton.

“It will be great to see the fans and the club and I’m really looking forward to it.”

There are plenty of familiar faces around the club, with fellow youth-team graduates James Ward-Prowse and Luke Shaw now in the first-team squad, along with Rickie Lambert and Jose Fonte.

And Oxlade-Chamberlain has warned his team-mates of the goalscoring threat of old pal Lambert.

He added: “Rickie Lambert is a natural goalscorer. He has got the physique and is good in the air – a typical old school centre­-forward.

‘‘Fonte is playing well and the manager is doing good things so I think they will stay up. I hope they do anyway.”

Saints boss Nigel Adkins, however, has told 17-year-old Shaw to forget about following Oxlade-Chamberlain and Walcott to Arsenal.

England Under-18 star Shaw has earned rave reviews since stepping into the Saints first team in October.

Adkins said: “We have a good reputation for developing players, as have Arsenal.

“Young players, like Shaw, are allowed to flourish at Southampton.

“I get similar excitement watching Luke and James Ward-Prowse as I did watching Oxlade-Chamberlain.

“Luke has the same acceleration as Alex and for a 17-year-old he has done ever so well in his progress.

“I know that he gets linked with Arsenal all the time, but things have changed here at this club.

‘‘Financially we do not have to let any of our young players leave the club and we are not looking to let him go anywhere.

“Luke is under contract to us and he is playing for us in the Premier League.

“There is no way we will ever again sell off our best young players in that way. So Luke stays here.”